Frederick County Pediatrics

06/23/2026

Take a Trip Tuesday!!!

Looking for a fun family adventure this summer? 🌞🐄🍦

A trip to South Mountain Creamery is the perfect way to spend a day with your kids! Nestled in the beautiful Middletown Valley, this working dairy farm offers hands-on experiences, learning opportunities, and plenty of sweet treats.

🐮 Feed baby calves (a family favorite!)
🚜 Explore the farm on a self-guided tour
🏡 Visit the calf barn, maternity barn, and original milking barn
📖 Learn where milk, ice cream, and other dairy products come from
🍦 Enjoy delicious hand-dipped or soft-serve ice cream made right on the farm
🛍️ Browse Karen's Kountry Store for farm-fresh milk, butter, eggs, and local products
🎉 Check out seasonal events and family activities throughout the year
🌳 Enjoy the fresh air, open spaces, and beautiful mountain views while making memories together.

One of the best parts? Admission to visit the farm is free, and families can explore at their own pace. Special experiences like tours and calf feeding are available for those who want an even closer look at farm life.

Whether your child loves animals, tractors, ice cream, or simply being outdoors, South Mountain Creamery offers a day full of fun, learning, and family connection. ❤️🐄🍨

06/22/2026

🌞 Today is the Day!! 🌞

Having trouble figuring out summer plans during the week? FredCoKids has taken the hassle out of scheduling things to do by creating something fun to do every week of Summer Break! 🎉

Follow along daily as we share a fun, easy idea to do with your kids,
perfect for keeping little ones active, creative, and engaged all summer long. ☀️

📸 We’d love to see your family in action!
If you try any of our activities, please email your photos to [email protected] and we may feature them on our social media pages!

Let’s make this summer simple, fun, and full of memories 💛

Join Us This Summer for a Season of Planned Family Fun starting the week of June 22! ☀️🌿

This summer, we're encouraging families to unplug, connect, and make lasting memories together. From arts and crafts to water play, outdoor adventures, learning activities, and family bonding, each day of the week is centered around a special theme designed to inspire fun and meaningful experiences.

Throughout the summer, we'll share a daily activity on our page that corresponds with that day's theme. Whether you're looking for creative ideas, ways to stay active, or simple opportunities to spend quality time together, there's something for every family to enjoy.

Daily Themes:

🎨 Make It Monday – Painting, flower walks, cloud dough, and creative crafts

🚗 Take a Trip Tuesday – Explore a park, museum, zoo, or a new local destination

💦 Water Wednesday – Pool time, sprinklers, water games, and cooling-off fun

🔬 Learn It Thursday – Science experiments, critical thinking activities, and discovery

🧁 Foodie Friday – Bake goodies, cook together, and try new recipes

🌟 Spontaneous Saturday – Let the family choose an adventure or activity together

🛋️ Super Chill Sunday – Family time, relaxation, reading, and a screen-free day

Follow along all summer long and join us as we celebrate connection, creativity, learning, and fun! We can't wait to see the memories your family creates. 💚🌞📚

06/22/2026

🍦 Make It Monday 🤩

This week’s activity is a fun, hands-on favorite: Cotton Pad “Ice Cream” Craft! 🎨🍧

Little ones will love building their own pretend ice cream cones using simple materials—and then bringing them to life with color!

What you’ll need:
🍦 Cardboard cones (or paper cones)
☁️ Cotton pads (the “scoops”)
💧 Droppers or small spoons
🌈 Colored water

Kids can stack their cotton pad scoops, decorate their cones, and then slowly add drops of colored water to watch the magic happen—colors spread, blend, and swirl right before their eyes!

💙 Why this activity is beneficial for children:

✅ Strengthens fine motor skills through squeezing droppers and placing materials
✅ Encourages creativity and self-expression through design and color choices
✅ Introduces early science concepts like absorption and color mixing
✅ Supports visual tracking and concentration skills
✅ Builds patience and curiosity through hands-on experimentation
✅ Promotes sensory exploration in a fun, low-prep activity

Simple activities like this turn everyday materials into meaningful learning moments—while keeping kids engaged, creative, and having fun!

This cotton pad ice cream craft is an easy, hands-on activity that’s perfect for little hands and big imaginations.

06/19/2026

☀️🌴 Friday Feature: Summer Safety Tips for Kids! 🌴☀️

Summer is the perfect time for outdoor adventures, but a few simple precautions can help keep your family safe while making memories!

🧴 Apply Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every 2 hours, especially after swimming or sweating.

💧 Stay Hydrated: Encourage children to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Offer water breaks often, especially during outdoor play.

🕶️ Dress for the Sun: Light-colored, lightweight clothing, hats, and sunglasses can help protect your child from harmful UV rays.

🏊 Practice Water Safety: Never leave children unattended near water, even for a moment. Designate a "water watcher" and ensure children wear properly fitted life jackets when needed.

🐜 Protect Against Bugs: Use child-safe insect repellent and check for ticks after spending time outdoors.

🌡️ Beat the Heat: Plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day and take frequent breaks in the shade.

🚗 Look Before You Lock: Always check the back seat before locking your car and never leave children unattended in a vehicle.

Summer is meant for fun, laughter, and making memories! With a little preparation, we can help keep our children safe and healthy all season long. ☀️❤️

💬 What is your family's favorite summer activity?

06/16/2026

Wishing all of our FCPS patients and teachers a wonderful last day of school!! Have a safe and fun summer 🏖️

Can you believe it's the last day of school?! We hope everyone has an amazing and restful summer. Enjoy the last day of school! 😎

06/15/2026

A huge thank you to Reach Out and Read for selecting Frederick County Pediatrics to receive 500 free emergency books to share with our patients during routine well visits!

Funding for books can sometimes be a challenge, so this generous shipment will allow us to put more books into the hands of more children and families throughout our community.

Reading is one of the cornerstones of our practice, and we believe it's never too early to develop a love of books. We encourage even our youngest patients to start exploring stories, language, and literacy from an early age.

We're especially excited that some of these newer books include access to downloadable audio versions and companion playlists, creating even more ways for children and families to enjoy reading together.

Thank you again to Reach Out and Read for helping us promote early literacy and support the healthy development of our patients!

06/15/2026

Join Us This Summer for a Season of Planned Family Fun starting the week of June 22! ☀️🌿

This summer, we're encouraging families to unplug, connect, and make lasting memories together. From arts and crafts to water play, outdoor adventures, learning activities, and family bonding, each day of the week is centered around a special theme designed to inspire fun and meaningful experiences.

Throughout the summer, we'll share a daily activity on our page that corresponds with that day's theme. Whether you're looking for creative ideas, ways to stay active, or simple opportunities to spend quality time together, there's something for every family to enjoy.

Daily Themes:

🎨 Make It Monday – Painting, flower walks, cloud dough, and creative crafts

🚗 Take a Trip Tuesday – Explore a park, museum, zoo, or a new local destination

💦 Water Wednesday – Pool time, sprinklers, water games, and cooling-off fun

🔬 Learn It Thursday – Science experiments, critical thinking activities, and discovery

🧁 Foodie Friday – Bake goodies, cook together, and try new recipes

🌟 Spontaneous Saturday – Let the family choose an adventure or activity together

🛋️ Super Chill Sunday – Family time, relaxation, reading, and a screen-free day

Follow along all summer long and join us as we celebrate connection, creativity, learning, and fun! We can't wait to see the memories your family creates. 💚🌞📚

06/12/2026

📚✨ Friday Feature: School's Out, But Don't Forget Your Physical! ✨📚

The school year is coming to an end, and summer break is the perfect time to check an important item off your family's to-do list!

☀️ Schedule your child's annual physical exam before the summer rush and get ready for the upcoming school year.

During your visit, we can help complete:
✅ School health forms
✅ Sports participation forms
✅ Camp physical forms
✅ Medication authorization forms
✅ Immunization records and updates

Why schedule during the summer?
✔️ Avoid last-minute back-to-school appointments
✔️ Ensure your child is healthy and ready for sports and activities
✔️ Have all required paperwork completed before deadlines arrive
✔️ Start the new school year with one less thing on your checklist

⚠️ Please note: Some physical exams may not be eligible for scheduling during the summer due to insurance plan requirements regarding the timing of annual wellness visits. If you're unsure when your child's next physical is covered, please contact your insurance company to see if your child is eligible for an earlier exam.

Appointments fill quickly as summer progresses, so call today to reserve your child's visit!

Wishing all of our students and families a safe, fun, and healthy summer break! 🌞🎒⚽

06/05/2026

📱👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Friday Feature: Make a Family Media Use Plan! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦📱

Technology is a big part of our daily lives, but finding the right balance can help families stay connected and healthy. Creating a Family Media Use Plan is a great way to set expectations for screen time, encourage quality family time, and promote healthy habits for children of all ages.

Some things to consider:
✅ Screen-free family meals
✅ Device-free bedtime routines
✅ Age-appropriate media choices
✅ Time for outdoor play and physical activity
✅ Family activities that don't involve screens

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a helpful guide to creating a personalized Family Media Use Plan that works for your family.

Take a few minutes this week to review your family's media habits and make a plan together!

📖 Read more here:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/How-to-Make-a-Family-Media-Use-Plan.aspx

media~The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains how your family can make a media use plan.

06/02/2026

🎓 Graduation Week is here! Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors! As you celebrate this exciting milestone, keep safety at the top of your list so the memories you make are good ones.

✅ Always wear your seatbelt
✅ Never drive distracted
✅ Stay with friends and use the buddy system
✅ Keep your phone charged and share your location with a trusted adult
✅ Stay hydrated, especially during outdoor activities
✅ Use sunscreen and practice water safety
✅ Trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe, leave

Parents: Keep communication open, know your teen's plans, and make sure they know they can call you anytime for a safe ride home.

Have fun, celebrate responsibly, and make this week one to remember for all the right reasons! 🎉🎓☀️